FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ronald W. Pickett, President Media Relations
Medical Advisory Systems, Inc. drkoop.com
910/509-1433 or 910/509-9433 512/583-5276
DRKOOP.COM & MEDICAL ADVISORY SYSTEMS ANNOUNCE
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Three-Year Alliance to Provide Broad Range of e-Health Solutions
October 26, 2000 - Austin, Texas and Owings, Maryland - drkoop.com, Inc.
(Nasdaq:KOOP) a leading Internet health network providing information to
individuals worldwide, and Medical Advisory Systems, Inc. (AMEX/Nasdaq: DOC)
a diversified provider of medical information, today announced a new
strategic partnership providing e-health solutions for both business and
consumers. The three-year relationship leverages the primary assets of both
companies, adding new lines of services to the drkoop.com Network and
increasing potential revenue streams.
New services include a 24-hour call and e-mail center staffed by
accredited physicians to facilitate real-time, confidential exchange of
medical information, medical travel assistance and clinical trial referrals
through the MAS Network of pharmaceutical and biotech customers. The strong
drkoop.com customer base of more than 1.4 million registered users and
trusted brand name, combined with MAS' unique technical support, contract
physicians and other strategic global partners will enhance each company's
product offerings.
"This is a key strategic relationship for both companies," said Ron
Pickett, President and Chairman of MAS. "In today's market, the only
successful companies will be those with a defined revenue model, a
differentiated set of services and products and an experienced management
team. By combining our talents, Medical Advisory and drkoop.com, will be
able to offer consumers one of the most robust, user-friendly healthcare
experiences available. Together, we will continue to empower the consumers
with better healthcare, real-time, all the time."
"drkoop.com was founded with the sole mission of empowering consumers,
but to continue to do so we must make sound business decisions," said Edward
Cespedes, President of drkoop.com. "This partnership fulfills both of those
requirements by providing even more resources for our users and creating
additional profitable revenue streams to grow and strengthen our business.
It also demonstrates the type of creativity afforded through the innovative
use of the Internet," he added.
drkoop.com will utilize MAS as the exclusive provider and technical host
of new physician live chat, e-mail and phone services, ultimately providing
one of the most convenient, reliable, timely and, perhaps most importantly,
private medical and health information available on the web. Such interactive
services will be delivered under the drkoop.com brand, including live
physician interaction via telephone and online chats. In addition,
drkoop.com will develop co-branded micro-sites to serve as exclusive
password-protected sites for customers of sponsors including existing
drkoop.com hospital partners, health plans, employers and HMOs.
In conjunction with eResearchTechnology (eRT), a wholly owned subsidiary
of PRWW, LTD. (Nadaq: PRWW), drkoop.com and MAS also will focus on patient
recruitment for clinical trials through the drkoop.com website. With more
than three million Americans enrolled in clinical trials each year, an
attractive opportunity exists for a company able to mitigate costs and
streamline and speed the research process. drkoop.com will assist MAS in
developing a national awareness program and marketing network to promote
clinical trials for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device
industries, including clinical research organizations. Strategically placed
links and content on the drkoop.com site will help drive potentially
interested participants to the MAS clinical trial recruitment site. MAS will
use a proprietary web-based system to pre-screen clinical trial candidates,
providing an easily accessible interface with its around-the-clock physician
base to help educate and guide qualified participants through the process.
"I have dedicated my life to helping people achieve better health,"
said Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General and chairman of
drkoop.com, "This relationship will not only increase access to medical
information and offer peace of mind for international travelers, but by
accelerating the speed and efficiency of clinical trials, it also can have a
real impact on advancing world health issues. This is, by far, the most
important aspect," he said.
By combining the strength of the MAS physician call center, eRT's web-
based software platform and the extensive marketing reach of the drkoop.com
site, the partners also are launching a new travel medical assistance
service. Expected to be a strong value proposition for consumers, the travel
service is devoted to providing timely, relevant worldwide information, as
well as comprehensive travel assistance for the millions of American
consumers traveling abroad without medical coverage. drkoop.com, in
association with MAS, eRT, and other renowned insurance companies are joining
forces to fill this significant gap in the American marketplace. These
services will be made available online through drkoop.com and a variety of
Internet travel sites, as well as through traditional travel agencies around
the country.
ABOUT DRKOOP.COM, INC.
drkoop.com is a leading Internet Health Network providing measurable
value to individuals worldwide. Its mission is to empower consumers with the
information and resources they need to become active participants in the
management of their own health. The drkoop.com Network is built from
relationships with other Web sites, healthcare portals and traditional media
outlets, and integrates dynamic, medically reviewed content, interactive
communities and consumer-focused tools into a complete source of trusted
healthcare information. Its strategic alliance with Shared Medical Systems
(SMS) makes drkoop.com a leader in promoting secure online interaction
between patients, their physicians and local healthcare organizations. With
more than 1.4 million registered users worldwide, drkoop.com has strategic
relationships with numerous online organizations. Through the Community
Partner Program (CPP), drkoop.com content is also featured on web sites
representing more than 420 healthcare facilities nationwide.
ABOUT MEDICAL ADVISORY SYSTEMS
Medical Advisory Systems, Inc., is a diversified provider of medical
information via the Internet and a number of other communication channels.
MAS operates a central call center in conjunction with more than 120 licensed
physicians under contract who provide 24/7, one-on-one "chat" with a
physician via the Internet or a telephone. MAS owns a 12% stake in Paris-
based CORIS Group, which provides it with the ability to offer its services
(including travel assistance and insurance) worldwide. The Company also has
relationships with insurance companies and clinical trial consulting
organizations. As Application Service Provider (ASP) for eResearchTechnology,
Inc. (www.ert.com), a subsidiary of PRWW, Ltd. (NASDAQ:PRWW), MAS will deploy
and support a suite of integrated clinical research software marketed to the
pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology industries.
Safe Harbor Statement:
Statements included in this release may constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties such as
competitive factors, technological development, market demand and the
Company's ability to obtain new contracts and accurately estimate net
revenues due to variability in size, scope and duration of projects, and
internal issues in the sponsoring client. Further information on potential
factors that could affect the Company's financial results, can be found in
the Company's Registration Statement and in its Reports on Forms 10-K and 10Q
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
